Squier

Yes, 4 hours sounds good! What time do you usually start? The earlier the better for me.

Enjoy, the red barn is fun, although not really aesthetically pleasing. They've really went through a lot of effort with the trails though, and it shows. But I digress... We went there thinking we were "skilled" mtb'ers as we've been riding for quite a while and I got my ass handed to me by the black route.

I know it takes away a lot of the effect when I say this , but I came off it relatively unscathed. Lucky, I guess... My bike is fine as well. After the crash I duct taped my shoes and even still rode home. Had a sore elbow and hip and a sore body on Sunday morning, but was back on the spinning bike by Tuesday.

Dropper posts don't help if you ride like an idiot. That was the first thing I checked! lol My first thoughts, even before worrying about broken bones, were "oh f&%#, my new helmet!!!!" But, it's all good... except for the shoes, that is.

So would I! We need to get CCTV cameras on our trails.

Luckily, yes! Remarkably, hardly a scratch. Don't know how that happened. It was one of my harder crashes...

... that you rip both soles right off your shoes?!?! Took a bit of a tumble at Big Red Barn on Saturday. Carried too much speed down a descent, into a drop off, into a corner... and subsequently, rather ineloquently, dismounted by tossing myself over the handlebars. Now, I've gone over the handlebars before, but never have I ripped the soles of my shoes. I was wearing my Sidi Dominator Pro 5's which are about 18 months old. So, the shoes aren't new and have some mileage on them, but I didn't expect this. I'm baffled.

Definitely in! This thing broke me last year! Back for more punishment!

Riaan, let's organise that group ride please. How about Saturday, 31 Aug? Can we try and keep it around 80 kms, just for time sake? Or what sort of mileage are we looking at? It won't be at a 24km/h average though. Closer to 20...

I distinctly remember the satelite descent from 2 years back! It saw the end of many a collarbone. Joublixem wasn't in though.

I'm in! I missed last year's race, so last did it in 2011. Hakahana last year was tougher than I remebered Van Gaalens, but that could've been to due to my bad memory. Which one did you find to be tougher last year?

I did this race a couple of years back. Good cause worth of support. I'l be there!

Yeah, I don't read much (in terms of books anyway) but that is the only book I've read this year... I've read it three times. And I'll read it again. Loved it. Just decided to pick up on of the Walsh or Kimmage books.

That sounds like a good idea! I'd prefer to ride with someone that knows the trail. I do a lot of riding in the Boschkop area, but don't know these trails at all. What sort of mileage are we looking at?

Riaan, you still need you to show me the Pienaars River singletrack going to Cullinan.

Opinions are all going to depend on whether you're a Spez or Dale fan. I agree that you'll only know once you ride it, but can't go wrong with either. For me, very close call, but I'll probably go with the Dale.

I wonder if your opinion would've been different if either you or the coach came from another geographic location?

On my mtb rear is right, but on my road bike (that I dont ride very often) rear is left. I've compmetely loosened my front brake on my road bike in case I get confused in a moment of panic. Still have to get that changed.

They pretty much do the same thing, except that Strava has the segments that compares your time to others who have ridden the same segments. I started out using Endomondo but now use strava. Endomondo had cool counters though, like measuring your calories burned by the number of burgers you have burned, trips to the moon and your fastest 50 km and your best hour, etc. My vote goes to Strava, but Endomondo is pretty usefull as well.

Same dietician as the Proteas perhaps?

Another spin along the Gariep dam whilst visiting the folks. Would've been a very chilled out ride in a very chilled out area if wasn't for the not-so-chilled-out ostrich that chased me. I've ridden there a lot, mostly alone, and this was a first. Will definitely be a little more weary in future. Still, good times. At the moment I'm in my car on the N1, somewhere between Bloem and Kroonstad, and would much rather be on my bike in the Karoo.

This is a race that I underestimate every time. But good fun and good training. Nice climbs, single track, flat jeep track sections and the last part of the lap is always windy. For me, it's not the toughest race around, but it's much tougher than it looks on the profile. Visiting my folks in Gariep dam this weekend so will have to give it a miss. Last one I did was March/April even though I've been wanting to get back out there. If you're riding, enjoy and keep it rubber side down.

Just out of interest; have you tried entering any of the events, e.g. Three Towers or even a one day event? Would love to see whether it actually identifies you as a banned rider and stops you from entering.

Thanks Gerald! Great game, once again. Leaving out Kittel... This must be how Robbie Deans felt after leaving out Quade Cooper. Not the best decision. Pinot was nowhere and so was Voeckler. The Frenchies let me down badly! Sticking with Purito for 2014! Still, good fun! Thanks again Frosty!

I actually rode with my wife's for a bit. It was that pink one with the breast cancer awareness signs, so I figured I could pull it off based on the "good cause". Verdict is still out... Anyway, it's a really cool helmet and if I can find it at R1200 I would seriously consider it. My only concern is that the shape has now been around for yonks and that Spez will bring out a new shape soon, and then I'm stuck with a new old helmet.